Louis Vuitton

recognizing genius.

Louis Vuitton (1821 – February 27, 1892), eponymous founder of the world-renowned brand, was born in Jura, France (now part of the commune of Lavans-sur-Valouse).

In 1835, he moved to Paris. The trip from his hometown to Paris was over 400 kilometers (249 mi), and he traveled the distance by foot. On his way there, he picked up a series of odd jobs to pay for his journey. There, he became an apprentice Layetier to prominent households. Because of his well established reputation in his fields,Napoleon III of France appointed Vuitton as Layetier to his wife, Empress Eugenie de Montijo.

Through his experience with French royalty, he developed expert knowledge of what made a good travelling case. It was then that he began to design his own luggage, setting the foundations for LV Co. (Wikipedia)